Check the data sheet. Usually it's around or above 2kV. It is not a coating meant to endure much mechanical "violence".
I'd say this is a bad idea. Enameled wire is for fixed applications only- wind it or do whatever once, then never again. There are some exceptions, like fine Litz wire or if you make something similar with multiple strands, then put it in your own insulated plastic braid or something.
Seems rather dangerous. In some countries, using the wrong mains cable can invalidate your home insurance.
NoNo!... Don't do that. Enameled copper wire is not meant to be used for such applications. The enamel coating on the wire can crack after repeated bending (common with power cables) , which can cause a blown fuse in a lucky case, or a major fire in a less lucky situation. For power line feeds, use only a twisted pair of wire with a proper insulation rating.
"Star Quad" is a possible geometry that can be made of properly insulated wires and gives useful reduction in mag field radiation/susceptibility and skin/proximity effect loss
SE output, bipolar power with ground return can be a bit more complicated than just pairs to get "right"
SE output, bipolar power with ground return can be a bit more complicated than just pairs to get "right"
Why would you even think about doing this? Use the proper wire for a power cable, like one that is properly made for such.
Every household insurance company would refuse to pay out after the event, if they discover DIY malpractice led to the incident and claim.
They will even use DIY malpractice that did not affect the incident being claimed based on "non disclosure" of information.
Well by it's very nature all DIY projects of any kind would invalidate one's house insurance since they all do not possess the necessary approved agency safety certification. It doesn't matter if it's DIY malpractice or perfect practise. So perhaps you should research and find how many houses have burned down due to a diy audio project.
No. In the EU there is no general requirement for DIY electronics to have safety certification - in fact I believe there may be a specific exemption for amateur radio DIY. However, an insurance company would seek for causes, and as Andrew said, they have a peculiar understanding of causality so anything the policyholder failed to tell them, however irrelevant, can be reason for not paying out. Our best safeguard is to follow good engineering practice. Making a mains cable out of enamelled copper wire is not best practice.
I would avoid all DIY mains cable. Buy some appropriate cable, cut it to the required length, then make safe terminations.
I would avoid all DIY mains cable. Buy some appropriate cable, cut it to the required length, then make safe terminations.
We're assuming the OP means mains power cables. There are so many well known reasons and regulations for not even thinking about messing with mains power cables/leads, I'm not sure they are meant here.
Well, look at it this way:
IF your house burns because your *fully* approved and properly installed Sony Home Theater or whatever caught fire, they will pay you.
They already calculated risks, lots of Statistics involved, they calculated the prime they'll charge you and millions others and on average , paying regular claims, they'll get even and make money in the process.
Now if your home made copy of an amp pulled from the Net, a book or even self designed does the same and they find it, they will not, because it's an unknown which makes calculations impossible.
Even if you build a product which is actually better than a commercial one, you can not prove it, so it must be treated as potentially dangerous.
Of course, you can send it to an approved Lab and have it tested ... but then we are back at square one, it's not the average "home made product" any more.
Why?
Insurance Companies have already researched how many homes burn down due to approved stuff (and they have a strong voice on what must be met to mean "approved"), researching *all* homemade products in USA/Canada/whatever will be 1000X more complex, for a market which is 1000X smaller (if that large) ... why bother?
It is not forbidden to home make stuff , far from it, but if it causes big damage you are on your own.
Not a bad thing, if you think a little, it will certainly make you worry and work better.
Once an employee of mine wound a power transformer *without* using customary 2 layers of fishpaper or Mylar between mains primary and secondaries, thanks God he casually mentioned it a couple days later and I had to chase the customer with another Guitar head in my hand to replace it, go figure.
Mind you, it would probably be working today with no problem, some 10/20 years later, I always use very strong electric motor rated Class F or H enamelled wire, not "transformer rated" , but that's not the point.
I shudder at Murphy's Law and how often it happens 😱
It doesn't matter where in the world one lives, a DIY audio product of any kind is not going to have any kind of safety certification, just by it's very nature as a home built item. It's not really about safe engineering practices it's about safety certification. Companies pay a lot of money for this certification for obvious reasons.
And of course insurance companies generally go to great lengths to avoid paying out money, but have no issues at all with receiving money from customers. That's just normal practice, or seems to be.
Nevertheless, a diy audio project is not very likely to cause a house fire, no matter how poorly it's made. Although I'm sure it can be done.
BTW, buying appropriate cable and terminating it yourself is still DIY, and even if the wire coatings are the proper colors for country electrical standards.
However, as long as does follow safe engineering practices one should be quite okay.
My question about researching how many houses burn down due to faulty diy audio projects sorta meant that I don't think this is a problem. But as always, it can indeed happen I suppose.
Yes, your last sentence is so true, you are indeed on your own. So it behooves one to do things properly and safely.
In My part of the world, DIY incompetence does not negate one's Household insurance. May seem surprising.. but true.
Pretty well Every homeowner on the planet does 'some' diy, ranging from capable to horrific.
If such wasn't covered.. then paying for Insurance is clearly Pointless 😉
A small factoid Not lost on the Insurance industry.
Professional (hired to do work) incomptence differs in that it eventually redirects insurers for $$.
As for the PO base question: What? would you achieve by using Magnet wire, besides a very thin Stiff and Shiny wire?
Power cables are Very inexpensive. 'Decent' Magnet wire is not.
Pretty well Every homeowner on the planet does 'some' diy, ranging from capable to horrific.
If such wasn't covered.. then paying for Insurance is clearly Pointless 😉
A small factoid Not lost on the Insurance industry.
Professional (hired to do work) incomptence differs in that it eventually redirects insurers for $$.
As for the PO base question: What? would you achieve by using Magnet wire, besides a very thin Stiff and Shiny wire?
Power cables are Very inexpensive. 'Decent' Magnet wire is not.
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Amplifiers and most household electronics and certified with respect to LVD (low voltage directive EN2014-35. Most of that is safety issues an can be observed by the manufacturer, but part of it is EMC related, and for that part you'll need an accredited lab and have measurement reports from an N (notified body) issued.
I made a common-mode choke out of twisted magnet wire. Once was enough - twisting degrades the enamel coating - microcracks form. It lasted a few weeks but eventually fused, setting fire to the plastic former the choke was wound on and tripping out the circuit breaker.
My suggestion - don't go there.
My suggestion - don't go there.
If you really want to go down this route of belief based engineering a less dangerous option would be to use Triple Insulated Wire like https://www.furukawa.co.jp/makisen/eng/product/texe_feature.htm
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